Content editing apparatus, content editing method and program

ABSTRACT

There is provided a content editing apparatus, content editing method and program capable of easily and rapidly extracting sections corresponding to a reproducing operation of content data. 
     The content editing apparatus includes an operation input processing unit  104  into which a reproduction operating command of content data is input by a user and a record controlling unit  108  for recording operation data corresponding to the reproduction operating command input into the operation input processing unit along with a reproduction position of the content data in a recording medium.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Priority Patent ApplicationJP 2008-076690, filed in the Japan Patent Office on Mar. 24, 2008, theentire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a content editing apparatus, contentediting method and program.

2. Description of Related Art

In reproducing video contents such as video files or still images'slideshow, all the data is not reproduced as it is, and after a userarbitrarily edits the data, the edited video contents may be reproduced.One of the video contents editing purposes is to remove unwantedsections from all the data and to generate a digest of the data.

For example, in Japanese Patent No. 3833149, there is disclosed atechnique in which, when reproducing a plurality items of informationdata, an arbitrary reproducing path among a plurality of reproducingpaths can be selected on a display screen. Thus, a user can select anoptimal reproducing path for reproduction processing even when aplurality of reproducing paths are set.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As for edited video contents such as digest, the sections which havebeen determined to be unnecessary and removed during editing may bedesired to be added and the reedited digest may be desired to be viewed.However, it is difficult to search for sections desired to be added fromamong all the data (original data) of the video contents, and also theoriginal data may have been deleted already.

Even when the digest is generated, the sections which are determined tobe important for one user may be determined to be unnecessary for theother user and vice versa. Thus, the digest may need to be reedited.

Further, when there are many users viewing one video content, it wasdifficult to specify in which sections the many users have a commoninterest. Therefore, there was not an editing method for generating adigest corresponding to the interest sections.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in views of the aboveissues, and it is desirable to provide a novel and improved contentediting apparatus, content editing method and program capable of easilyand rapidly extracting a section corresponding to a content datareproducing operation.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided acontent editing apparatus including an operation input processing unitinto which a reproduction operating command of content data is input bya user, and a record controlling unit for recording operation datacorresponding to the reproduction operating command input into theoperation input processing unit along with a reproduction position ofthe content data in a recording medium.

With the structure, the operation input processing unit is input with areproduction operating command of content data by a user and the recordcontrolling unit records operation data corresponding to thereproduction operating command input into the operation input processingunit along with a reproduction position of the content data in arecording medium. Consequently, a reproduction position of the contentdata can be referred to based on the operation data corresponding to thereproduction operating command recorded in the recording medium.

The operation data may include a score which is calculated by acoefficient corresponding to the reproduction operating command. Theapparatus may further include a reproduction controlling unit forreproducing the content data depending on the score of the operationdata recorded in the recording medium. With the structure, it ispossible to divide the content data into sections to be reproduced andsections not to be reproduced depending on the score of the operationdata.

The reproduction controlling unit may apply a threshold to divide thecontent data depending on the score of the operation data recorded inthe recording medium and to extract and reproduce the divided contentdata based on the threshold. With the structure, the content data can bedivided based on the threshold by which the score of the operation datais divided.

The reproduction controlling unit may perform the same reproductioncontrolling as the reproducing operation based on the reproductionoperating command recorded in the operation data to reproduce thecontent data.

The apparatus may further include a display controlling unit forvisually displaying a time-varying distribution of the scores of theoperation data on a displaying device. The display controlling unit mayvisually display a threshold for dividing the content data based on thescore on the displaying device, and the operation input processing unitmay further include a reproduction controlling unit into which athreshold changing command is input by a user for applying a thresholdto divide the content data and to extract and reproduce the dividedcontent data based on the threshold.

The apparatus may further include a filing processing unit for applyinga threshold to divide the content data depending on the score of theoperation data recorded in the recording medium, to extract the dividedcontent data based on the threshold, and to combine the divided contentdata being extracted to generate combined content data.

The record controlling unit may update the operation data previouslyrecorded in the recording medium in response to a newly-inputreproduction operating command. The reproduction operating command mayinclude a reproduction direction instructing operation, reproductionspeed instructing operation or zooming operation.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a content editing method including the steps of:inputting a reproduction operating command of content data by a user;and recording operation data corresponding to the input reproductionoperating command along with a reproduction position of the content datain a recording medium.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a program for causing a computer to function as a unitfor inputting a reproduction operating command of content data by a userand a unit for recording operation data corresponding to the inputreproduction operating command along with a reproduction position of thecontent data in a recording medium.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and rapidlyextract a section corresponding to a content data reproducing operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a content editing apparatus accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation inputting unit according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an operation input processing unitaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a video recording/reproducing unitaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a log recording/reproducing unitaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a reproduction controlling commandadjusting unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation during content datareproducing;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure and dataexample of operation log data according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a score table forscoring the operation log data;

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a relationship between interest degree andtime;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an editing processing operation of thecontent editing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a reproducing section extractingoperation of the content editing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between interest degree andtime;

FIG. 14 is plan view (partial cross-section view) and side view showingan operation inputting unit according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a side view showing an example of a shape of an inputtingunit 31 in the operation inputting unit according to the embodimentbefore and after loading;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing an arrangement example of hallelements of the three axes on a circuit board relative to a biasmagnetic field B applied in the z-axis direction;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an example of the hall elements ofthe three axes for detecting a magnetic flux density in three axialdirections;

FIG. 18 is a side cross-section view showing an operation inputting unitaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a graph showing a distribution example of a surface magneticflux density in the z-axis direction detected at each magnetic fluxdetecting point of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an electric structure of theoperation inputting unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a structure example of an x-outputstabilizing circuit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a structure example of a z-outputstabilizing circuit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a graph showing a midpoint voltage of a final output voltage;

FIG. 24 is a side cross-section view showing the operation inputtingunit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a graph showing a relationship among a final output voltagefrom the z-axis hall element, load (pressure value) and materialthickness;

FIG. 26 is a side cross-section view showing the operation inputtingunit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a graph showing a relationship between a load position on thex-axis and an x-axis final output voltage as well as a z-axis finaloutput voltage; and

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a content editing systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elementsthat have substantially the same function and structure are denoted withthe same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of thesestructural elements is omitted.

(Structure of First Embodiment)

A structure of a content editing apparatus 100 according to a firstembodiment of the present invention will be first described. FIG. 1 is ablock diagram showing the content editing apparatus 100 according to thepresent embodiment.

The content editing apparatus 100 extracts sections which meetconditions, for example sections which have high interest degree amongcontent data in response to a user's reproducing operation input via anoperation inputting unit 140, reproduces digest data made of theextracted sections or records the same in a recording medium.

The content editing apparatus 100 includes a CPU 102, an operation inputprocessing unit 104, a reproduction controlling command adjusting unit105, a video recording/reproducing unit 106, a log recording/reproducingunit 108, a memory 112 and the like. The content editing apparatus 100is connected with a video recording device 118, a log recording device120, a video displaying device 130, the operation inputting unit 140 andthe like. In the present embodiment, there will be described a casewhere the video recording device 118, the log recording device 120, thevideo displaying device 130 and the operation inputting unit 140 areseparate constituents from the content editing apparatus 100, but thepresent invention is not limited to the example. For example, thedevices may be integrally combined with the content editing apparatus100.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102 can function as a computing deviceand a controlling device through programs and control a processing ofeach constituent provided within the content editing apparatus 100.

The operation input processing unit 104 receives a reproductionoperating command from the operation inputting unit 140. The operationinput processing unit 104 is connected to the reproduction controllingcommand adjusting unit 105 and sends a reproduction controlling commandgenerated in the reproduction controlling command adjusting unit 105 tothe video recording/reproducing unit 106.

The reproduction controlling command adjusting unit 105 is connected tothe operation input processing unit 104 and scores (weights) the user'sreproducing operation in response to the reproduction operating command.The reproduction controlling command adjusting unit 105 generates ascored user's reproducing operation as a reproduction controllingcommand.

The video recording/reproducing unit 106 writes content data in thevideo recording device 118 or reads out the content data recorded in thevideo recording device 118. The video recording/reproducing unit 106generates an operation result based on the reproduction controllingcommand received from the operation input processing unit 104.

The log recording/reproducing unit 108, which is an example of therecord controlling unit, writes operation log data in the log recordingdevice 120 or reads out the operation log data recorded in the logrecording device 120. The log recording/reproducing unit 108 generatesthe operation log data based on the operation result generated in thevideo recording/reproducing unit 106.

The display controlling unit 110 controls to display content data on thevideo displaying device 130 in response to the content data. The displaycontrolling unit 110 sends a video signal to the video displaying device130.

The memory 112 is configured to have a storing unit such as RAM (RandomAccess Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) or cache memory. The memory 112has a function of temporarily storing data on the processing of the CPU102 or an operation program of the CPU 102.

A series of processings in the content editing apparatus 100 may beprocessed in hardware or may be realized through a software processingby programs on the computer.

The video recording device 118 stores content data therein. The contentdata is, for example, video data related to video contents such asvideos or still images' slideshow.

The log recording device 120 stores operation log data therein. Theoperation log data is information such as an operation resultcorresponding to the user's reproduction operating command and a contentdata reproduction position at the time of being operated.

The video recording device 118 and the log recording device 120 areconfigured to have, for example, a HDD (hard disk drive) or flash memoryand are directed for storing data for a long time.

The video displaying device 130 is configured to have a displaying unitsuch as liquid crystal displaying (LCD) device or CRT displaying devicefor displaying a video signal and an audio outputting unit such asspeaker for outputting an audio signal. For example, a user can viewcontent data via the video displaying device 130.

The operation inputting unit 140 is a controller, keyboard, mouse or thelike including a plurality of buttons, for example. The operationinputting unit 140 sends a reproduction operating command correspondingto the reproducing operation to the operation input processing unit 104in response to the user's reproducing operation.

The operation inputting unit 140 will be described with reference toFIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation inputting unit 140according to the present embodiment. The operation inputting unit 140 isconfigured to have, for example, a reproduction button 141, a stopbutton 142, a fast-forward button 143, a fast-rewind button 144, a speedcontroller 145 and the like.

When the reproduction button 141 is pressed, a reproduction command ofinstructing to start content data reproducing is output, and when thereproduction button is pressed again during reproducing, a temporarystop command of instructing to temporarily stop content data reproducingis output.

When the stop button 142 is pressed, a stop command of instructing tostop content data reproducing is output.

Further, when the fast-forward button 143 is pressed, a fast-forwardcommand of instructing to reproduce content data in the forwarddirection faster than the standard reproduction speed is output. Whenthe fast-rewind button 144 is pressed, a fast-rewind command ofinstructing to reproduce content data in the reverse direction fasterthan the standard reproduction speed is output.

The speed controller 145 can adjust the reproduction speed at anarbitrary speed faster or slower than the standard reproduction speedand arbitrarily select the reproduction direction in the forward orreverse direction. The speed controller 145 is adjusted to output acommand of instructing the reproduction speed or reproduction direction.

Each constituent of the content editing apparatus 100 according to thepresent embodiment will be described below in detail.

The operation input processing unit 104 will be first described withreference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the operationinput processing unit 104 according to the present embodiment.

The operation input processing unit 104 is configured to have, forexample, a command converter 109, a ROM 111 and the like.

The command converter 109 receives the reproduction operating commandoutput from the operation inputting unit 140 and refers to a tablerecorded in the ROM 111 based on the reproducing command to generate thereproduction controlling command. The command converter 109 sends thegenerated reproduction controlling command to the videorecording/reproducing unit 106.

The ROM 111 holds a table for converting the reproduction operatingcommand into the reproduction controlling command. The table is read outby the command converter 109.

The video recording/reproducing unit 106 will be described below withreference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the videorecording/reproducing unit 106 according to the present embodiment.

The video recording/reproducing unit 106 is configured to have, forexample, a decoder controlling unit 113, a file operating unit 114, adecoder renderer 115, a VRAM 116, a video addition information analyzer117 and the like.

The decoder controlling unit 113 receives a reproduction controllingcommand from the operation input processing unit 104, similarly receivesa reproduction controlling command from the log recording/reproducingunit 108 and sends a CODEC controlling command to the decoder renderer115 to control the operation of the decoder renderer 115. Thus, thesections extracted from the content data, which meet certain conditions,are reproduced.

The decoder controlling unit 113 receives information on a reproductionposition from the decoder renderer 115 to generate an operation resultand sends the generated operation result to the logrecording/reproducing unit 108. The operation result includes commands,time codes at the time of generating the command and the like, forexample. Thus, new operation log data is generated by a new reproducingoperation.

The file operating unit 114 reads out content data from the videorecording device 118 and sends the read content data to the decoderrenderer 115 and the video addition information analyzer 117.

The decoder renderer 115 performs decoder processing and rendererprocessing on the content data received from the file operating unit114. The data processed by the decoder renderer 115 is sent to the VRAM116. Further, the decoder renderer 115 sends information on areproduction position of the section reproduced through the reproducingoperation to the decoder controlling unit 113.

The VRAM 116 stores the content data which has been subjected to thedecoder processing and the renderer processing therein.

The video addition information analyzer 117 extracts a content ID(identification information) from the content data and sends the contentID to the log recording/reproducing unit 108.

The log recording/reproducing unit 108 will be described below withreference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the logrecording/reproducing unit 108 according to the present embodiment.

The log recording/reproducing unit 108 is configured to have, forexample, a log data generating unit 121, a ROM 122, a file operatingunit 123, a reproduction controlling command generator 124 and the like.

The log data generating unit 121 receives the operation result and thecontent ID from the video recording/reproducing unit 106. Then the logdata generating unit 121 receives the previous log data already storedin the log recording device 120 from the file operating unit 123 andperforms scoring based on the score table stored in the ROM 122 togenerate new log data. The log data generating unit 121 sends thegenerated new log data to the file operating unit 123.

The ROM 122 stores the score table therein in response to the operationof the reproduction speed or the reproduction direction at the time ofreproducing the content data.

The file operating unit 123 receives new log data from the log datagenerating unit 121 and writes the operation log data into the logrecording device 120. The file operating unit 123 reads out theoperation log data recorded in the log recording device 120 and sendsthe read operation log data to the log data generating unit 121 and thereproduction controlling command generator 124.

The reproduction controlling command generator 124 receives log datafrom the file operating unit 123 and generates a reproductioncontrolling command and score information based on the log data. Thereproduction controlling command generator 124 sends the generatedreproduction controlling command and the score information to the videorecording/reproducing unit 106 and the reproduction controlling commandadjusting unit 105. Thus, when reproduction is performed based on thelog data, the sections which meet certain conditions based on the scoreinformation can be extracted.

The reproduction controlling command adjusting unit 105 will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a block diagramshowing the reproduction controlling command adjusting unit 105according to the present embodiment.

The reproduction controlling command adjusting unit 105 has a comparator119 and the like, for example.

The comparator 119 receives a reproduction controlling command and scoreinformation from the log recording/reproducing unit 108. The comparator119 receives a threshold of a user-input score and user-input comparisonconditions. The comparison conditions are to select a section whosescore is equal to the threshold of the score among the content data, orto select a section whose score is larger or smaller than the thresholdof the score. The comparator 119 newly generates a reproductioncontrolling command based on the reproduction controlling command andscore information input from the log recording/reproducing unit 108, theuser-input threshold and the comparison conditions.

Thus, content data can be reproduced for the sections which meet certainconditions based on the score information.

(Operation of First Embodiment)

An operation of the content editing apparatus 100 according to the firstembodiment of the present invention will be described below.

An operation of reproducing and viewing content data will be firstdescribed. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time ofreproducing content data.

The selected content data is started to reproduce through the user'soperation of the operation inputting unit 140 (step S101). Then, anoperation command is converted into a reproduction controlling commandin the operation input processing unit 104 and the reproductioncontrolling command is read for each frame of the content data in thevideo recording/reproducing unit 106 (step S102). At this time, thecommands such as reproduction speed, reproduction direction or zoomingoperation are read.

Next, the video recording/reproducing unit 106 performs reproducingcontrol of the content data read out from the video recording device 118based on the reproduction controlling command (step S103). At this time,the video recording/reproducing unit 106 sends an operation result tothe log recording/reproducing unit 108 and the log recording/reproducingunit 108 records the operation log data in the log recording device 120(step S104).

The video recording/reproducing unit 106 sends to the displaycontrolling unit 110 the content data which has been subjected to thedecode processing and the renderer processing and the displaycontrolling unit 110 displays a video of the content data on the videodisplaying device 130 (step S105). Then, the operations from step S101to step S105 are repeated until the content data reproducing stop isinstructed by the user's operation of the operation inputting unit 140(step S106).

The operation log data recorded in the log recording device 120 will bedescribed here. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a datastructure and data example of the operation log data according to thepresent embodiment.

A format of the operation log data is divided into, for example, aheader and a log part as shown in FIG. 8A. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B,the header is configured to include unique log ID (log_id), content ID(conte_id), user ID (user_name), generating time (date) and the like.Further, the log part is configured to include a plurality of logs foreach reproduction controlling by user's operation. Each log isconfigured to include an index representing the control order, controlstarting position (time), content reproduction state based on thecontrol result (speed, zoom_center, zoom_scale) and the like. Thecontent reproduction state includes a reproduction speed or a zoomstate, for example, when reproducing the content data.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 8B, reproduction starts at1-time speed (standard reproduction speed) at 0 second and is controlledto be at 0.5-time speed at 1 minute 2 seconds and 1-time speed in thereverse direction at 4 minutes 30 seconds. The reproduction is beingperformed at 1-time speed at 4 minutes 56 seconds while double zoomingis performed in which the center is moved to 50th pixel and 70th pixelin the horizontal direction and vertical direction, respectively.Thereafter, the content data reproduction is stopped at 10 minutes.

The operation log data is recorded for each content data each time thecontent data is reproduced. The operation log data is read to performscoring based on a certain rule and to apply a threshold, therebyextracting sections which meet the certain condition. Consequently, theextracted sections are combined, thereby generating the digest contentdata.

The content data may be reproduced by using the reproduction speed orzoom magnification recorded in the operation log data when reproducingthe content data, and performing the same reproduction controlling asthe operation recorded in the operation log data. Thus, when the digestcontent data is reproduced, more effective reproduction of the sectionswith high interest degree can be performed.

Next, an example of rule for scoring the operation log data will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagramshowing an example of a score table for scoring the operation log data.FIG. 9A shows a relationship between reproduction speed and score andFIG. 9B shows a relationship between zoom magnification and score. Ascore of a certain section is calculated based on the reproduction speedand the zoom magnification.

In FIG. 9, for example, when a score of a certain section is assumed asan index of interest degree of the section, scoring is performeddepending on the user's interest degree. In other words, in the case ofthe reproduction speed shown in FIG. 9A, the slower the reproduction isperformed, the higher the interest degree is, and the faster the sectionis forwarded or rewound, the lower the interest degree is. When thestandard reproduction speed is set at V=1, if the reproduction speed isin the range of −1≦V≦1, the core is assumed as 1, if the reproductionspeed is in the range of V<−1 or 1<v≦2, the score is assumed as 0, andif the reproduction speed is in the range of v>2, the score is assumedas −1.

Further, in the case of the zoom magnification shown in FIG. 9B, thesection which is enlarged for reproduction has high interest degree.When the standard size is set at z=1, if the zoom magnification is inthe range of z≦0, the score is assumed as 0, and if the zoommagnification is in the range of z>1, the score is assumed as 1.

When the above operation log data and the score table shown in FIG. 9are used, the interest degree distribution on the time axis can beobtained as shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a graph showing a relationshipbetween interest degree and time. The interest degree changes in thetime axis direction depending on the operation such as reproductionspeed or zoom magnification. As for the interest degree distribution,when a plurality of items of operation log data are recorded for eachreproduction, the calculation is performed by averaging so that theinterest degree distribution with higher accuracy can be obtained.

An edition processing operation of the content editing apparatus 100according to the present embodiment will be described below withreference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the editionprocessing operation of the content editing apparatus 100 according tothe present embodiment.

At first, when a plurality of items of content data such as severalvideos are recorded in the video recording device 118, the contentediting apparatus 100 acquires a video list from the video recordingdevice 118 (step S201). Further, the content editing apparatus 100acquires operation log data from the log recording device 120 (stepS202).

Next, the content editing apparatus 100 presents a list of videos andoperation logs to the user via the video displaying device 130 based onthe acquired video list and operation log data (step S203). Then, theuser selects a video to be reproduced (reproduction item) (step S204).

Once the video to be reproduced is selected, the graph showing therelationship between interest degree and time as shown in FIG. 10 ispresented to the user via the video displaying device 130 based on theoperation long data corresponding to the selected video (step S205).Thus, if the selected video has been previously reproduced, the user caneasily determine which section among the video data has high or lowinterest degree.

Next, a threshold of the interest degree is displayed on the videodisplaying device 130 so that the sections are divided into the sectionswith high interest degree and the sections with low interest degree(step S206). The threshold of the interest degree can be raised orlowered by the user and the threshold is set by the user, therebysetting the reproducing section condition (step S207).

Once the threshold is set, the content editing apparatus 100 extractsthe sections with high interest degree as the sections to be reproduced,for example (step S208). Thus, only the sections with high interestdegree among the video data are combined or reproduced so that thedigest video data is generated. For example, when the user performsreproduction starting operation, the content editing apparatus 100performs reproduction controlling to reproduce the extracted sectionswith high interest degree (step S209). Though not shown, when the useroperates to start digest file generation, the content editing apparatusperforms file generation to record a newly-generated file in therecording medium.

There will be described in detail a reproducing section extractingoperation among the edition processing operations of the content editingapparatus 100 according to the present embodiment with reference toFIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the reproducing sectionextracting operation of the content editing apparatus 100 according tothe present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relationshipbetween interest degree and time, where a threshold is indicated.

At first, an interest degree distribution in the time axis direction iscalculated based on the operation log data and the score table (stepS301). Consequently, the graph as shown in FIG. 13A or 13B is obtained.Next, a threshold is designated by which the sections are divided intothe sections with high interest degree and the sections with lowinterest degree (step S302). When a similar graph as shown in FIG. 13Ais displayed in the video displaying device 130, the position of thethreshold is raised or lowered by the user, for example, a lineindicating the threshold is dragged by the mouse to arbitrarily set thesections with high interest degree as the sections to be reproduced(step S303). For example, as shown in FIG. 13B, the sections with highinterest degree can be selected as three sections.

When the original data combines the sections separated as in thesections (1), (2) and (3) in FIG. 13B, a cross-fade method may be usedto combine the sections.

The cross-fade is a combining method which is used for the transparencyof the previous and following videos for several seconds and is forgradually making the transparency of the previous video opaque tocompletely transparent and gradually making the following video fromcompletely transparent to opaque. When black fade is used, the tail andthe header of the target section are mixed. Thus, when one wishes toreliably view the sections with high interest degree to the end or fromthe beginning, the extended sections with high interest degree need tobe extracted in consideration of the cross-fade period.

For example, in order to extract the cross-fade period, a thresholdlower than the user-set threshold is set and the threshold for thecross-fade is applied to extract the cross-fade period (step S304).

Then, the content editing apparatus 100 combines the extracted sectionswith high interest degree and the extracted cross-fade period (stepS305). Consequently, the combined reproduction data in which eachsection is combined is generated (step S306).

The combined reproduction data is recorded in the recording medium ordisplayed on the video displaying device 130 as it is (step S307). Forexample, the sections (1), (2), (3) and the previous and following shortperiods of the (1), (2), (3) are combined in FIG. 13B and the video datais sequentially reproduced on the order of (1), (2), (3) while includingthe cross-fade period.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when contentdata is reproduced and viewed, the operation log data such asreproduction speed or zoom magnification is recorded so that thesections with high interest degree among the content data can beextracted. The sections with high interest degree are utilized so thatfile generation of digest content data is performed rapidly and easily.

The interest degree distribution in the time axis direction and thethreshold are visibly displayed on the video displaying device 130 sothat the user can easily change the threshold and the digest having auser-desired length can be easily generated.

The operation log data is recorded for each reproduction so that theaccuracy of the interest degree distribution to be calculated can beimproved. Further, content data may be reproduced by utilizing thereproduction speed or zoom magnification recorded in the operation logdata when reproducing the content data to perform the same reproductioncontrolling as the operation recorded in the operation log data. Thus,when the digest content data is reproduced, more effective reproductionof the sections with high interest degree can be performed.

(Second Embodiment)

A content editing apparatus 200 according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention will be described below. The content editing apparatus200 according to the present embodiment has the similar structure as thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the present embodiment hasan operation inputting unit 240 described later instead of the operationinputting unit 140. Other constituents of the content editing apparatus200 have the similar structure and operations as the apparatus 100 andthe detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The operation inputting unit 240 is configured to include an inputtingunit 31 which a user's finger or object contacts and which is made ofdeformable material, a fixing unit 32 for supporting the inputting unit31, and an external connecting unit 33 into/from a power supply orcontrol signal is input/output.

The operation inputting unit 240 is configured to have a stress magneticfield converting unit 41 (magnetic body) having flexibility andpredetermined surface friction. The stress magnetic field convertingunit 41 (magnetic body) changes into various shapes due to a forceapplied from an external object and a shape of the object. A biasmagnetic flux which has been initially given to the stress magneticfield converting unit 41 (magnetic body) changes correspondingly to thedeformation of the stress magnetic field converting unit 41 (magneticbody). The change in the bias magnetic flux is detected as a change involtage through a magnitude of the magnetic flux density or adirectional change in the magnetic flux density for informatization. Thechange in voltage is corresponded to various reproduction operatingcommands (such as reproduction start or stop, reproduction direction,reproduction speed) depending on its kind, and the operation inputtingunit 240 sends a reproduction operating command corresponding to thechange in voltage to the operation input processing unit 104.

A structure of the operation inputting unit 240 according to the presentembodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 isa plan view (partial cross-section view) and side view showing theoperation inputting unit 240 according to the present embodiment. Thereis shown at the upper side of FIG. 14 a a top view where the operationinputting unit 240 is viewed from immediately above and at the lowerside of FIG. 14 a side cross-section view where the operation inputtingunit 240 is viewed from side.

The inputting unit 31 is broadly configured to have the stress magneticfield converting unit 41 and the magnetic field detecting unit 42. Onthe top view of FIG. 14, the stress magnetic field converting unit 41 isomitted for convenient description.

The stress magnetic field converting unit 41 is made of a compositematerial (also called viscoelastic magnet below) of viscoelasticmaterial such as silicon gel and rare-earth magnetic powder and easilydeforms due to external load. The magnetic field detecting unit 42 isconfigured to have a circuit board where one or more magnetoelectrictransducer such as hall element are arranged, and detects a magneticflux generated from the surface of the adjacent stress magnetic fieldconverting unit 41 to output a voltage.

An example of a shape of the inputting unit 31 in the operationinputting unit 240 before and after loading will be described below withreference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a side view showing an example of theshape of the inputting unit 31 in the operation inputting unit 240according to the present embodiment before and after loading. Theinputting unit 31 can easily deform into various shapes due to externalload since the stress magnetic field converting unit 41 configuring theinputting unit 31 is made of a viscoelastic material in whichviscoelastic elastomer is used as binder as described above. Silicon gelwith high heat resistance, cold resistance, slidability and wearresistance is suitable for the viscoelastic material but other materialsmay also be used.

A boundary between the inputting unit 31 and the fixing unit 32 is aconstraint surface 51, which is affixed through bonding or integralmolding. Thus, when a load F is applied to the inputting unit 31 throughfinger A's pressing of the inputting unit 31, a so-called bulgingphenomenon occurs, where the inputting unit 31 after loading expands inpart of the side or top surface more than in the original shape beforeloading, from incompressibility similar to those of rubber material orthe like. It is seen by the applicant as an experimental result that thedeformation shape expresses various characteristics due to loading valueor input shape.

The materials configuring the inputting unit 31 will be described belowin detail with reference to FIG. 14.

In the example of FIG. 14, the magnetic field detecting unit 42 isconfigured to have a circuit board 61 in which one or moremagnetoelectric transducer such as hall element are arranged and whichis molded by a resin 62, and is bonded on the fixing unit 32 to befixed.

The stress magnetic field converting unit 41 is bonded on the circuitboard 61 molded by the resin 62. In the example of FIG. 14, the stressmagnetic field converting unit 41 is configured to have a viscoelasticmagnet 63 which is shaped by kneading typical magnet material andviscoelastic material, and a thin-film silicon rubber 64 integratedtherewith by two-color molding.

The magnet material includes, for example, neodymium-based orsamarium-based rare-earth or ferrite magnetic powder material. Theviscoelastic material includes silicon or polyurethane.

Since the viscoelastic material typically has higher viscosity as itbecomes softer, when it is assumed that the material contacts an objectgrip or person, the material needs to be modified through coating orpowder processing, thereby reducing friction. However, since thematerial has low durability and is likely to change in its surface statein use environment, the surface may be uneven and a positionalcharacteristic difference may occur in the surface of the operationinputting unit 240 depending on the modifying method.

Thus, the thin-film silicon rubber 64 is integrated with the surface ofthe viscoelastic magnet 63 to configure the stress magnetic fieldconverting unit 41 as shown in FIG. 14. Consequently, the thin-filmsilicon rubber 64 on the surface allows durability improvement andfriction control without losing softness of the inside silicon gel (orof the viscoelastic magnet 63).

A bias magnetic field applied to the stress magnetic field convertingunit 41 before and after loading will be described below with referenceto FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a side view showing an example of the biasmagnetic field applied to the stress magnetic field converting unit 41before and after loading. Actually, the stress magnetic field convertingunit 41 also deforms after loading similarly as the inputting unit 31,but the stress magnetic field converting unit 41 after loading in FIG.15 is shown as having the same shape as before loading for convenientdescription.

The stress magnetic field converting unit 41 is made of, as describedabove with reference to FIG. 14, an isotropic rare-earth magnet (thatis, viscoelastic magnet 63) with viscoelasticity which is mixed withelastomer as a binder to be shaped. The rare-earth magnet may beanisotropic. The stress magnetic field converting unit 41 has beenpreviously applied a bias magnetic field B in the z-axis direction (inthe vertical direction relative to the input plane 31 a) bymagnetization after being shaped as shown by an arrow before loading.

Meanwhile, after a load F is applied through the finger A's pressing ofthe inputting unit 31, the intensity of the bias magnetic field B, whichhas been arranged in the z-axis direction before loading, causes adifference (varies) due to deformation of the stress magnetic fieldconverting unit 41, and then becomes a magnetic field depending on thematerial thickness. In other words, as shown by the arrow's length afterloading, the bias magnetic field B of a portion where the thickness ismade larger due to bulging phenomenon becomes stronger than beforeloading, and the bias magnetic field B of a portion where the thicknessis made smaller due to a load F becomes weaker than before loading.

This is based on a change in a diamagnetic field inside the magnet alongwith a change in the thickness of the stress magnetic field convertingunit 41 (that is, rare-earth magnet). The smaller the thickness is, thelarger the diamagnetic field inside the magnet becomes, thereby makingthe magnetic flux density occurring outside the magnet smaller (notshown). In other words, the stress magnetic field converting unit 41correlates with the magnetic flux density.

A stress which occurs inside the magnet due to the object's load Fcorrelates with the deformation of the stress magnetic field convertingunit 41 (that is, viscoelastic material). Therefore, a magnetic fluxvector occurring outside the magnet closely correlates with the stressoccurring inside the magnet due to the object's load F.

There is described an example where the bias magnetic field B is appliedsubstantially in the z-axis direction in the example of FIG. 15, but thedirection in which the bias magnetic field B is applied is not limitedto the z-axis direction. For example, the bias magnetic field B may beapplied in a different direction (such as in a direction tilted by 45degrees or 90 degrees relative to the z-axis direction) depending on theshapes of various magnets or an arrangement of sensors for detecting amagnetic flux density occurring outside the magnet.

Three axial hall elements on the circuit board 61 will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showingan arrangement example of the hall elements of the three axes on thecircuit board 61 relative to the bias magnetic field B applied in thez-axis direction.

In the example of FIG. 16, there is shown a hall element group 91 madeof x-axis hall elements 81 x 1, 81 x 2, y-axis hall elements 81 y 1, 81y 2 and a z-axis hall element. In other words, in the hall element group91, two hall elements 81 x 1 and 81 x 2 and two hall elements 81 y 1 and81 y 2 are used for the x-axis and the y-axis, respectively.

The z-axis hall element 81 z is arranged such that a z-axis magneticflux B_(d)(z) to be captured (the z-axis vector among the magnetic fluxdensity vectors B_(d) decomposed in three axial directions) issubstantially parallel to the direction in which the basis magneticfield B is applied. In other words, the z-axis hall element 81 z isarranged vertically relative to the bias magnetic field B applied in thez-axis direction. The x-axis hall elements 81 x 1 and 81 x 2 arearranged such that their centers are positioned on the z-axis for beingused for differential (differential amplifying unit 161 in FIG. 21). They-axis hall elements 81 y 1 and 81 y 2 are arranged such that theircenters are positioned on the z-axis for being used for differential.

The hall element group 91, as shown in FIG. 16, may use a structurewhere five hall elements 81 are united into one semiconductor other thana structure where five single-axis hall elements 81 are used. Acomposite type structure may be used in which any of the five elementsare united and the remaining thereof are configured with single-axiselements.

Three axial hall elements according to the present embodiment will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is a perspective viewshowing an example of the hall elements of the three axes for detectingthe magnetic flux density in three axial directions.

In the example of FIG. 17, there are shown magnetic flux B_(d)(x),magnetic flux B_(d)(y) and magnetic flux B_(d)(z) which are generated bydecomposing the magnetic flux density vector (simply referred to asmagnetic flux below) in the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis directions. When ahall current Ic is flowed to the hall element 81 x which captures thex-axis magnetic flux B_(d)(x) (referred to as x-axis hall element 81 xbelow), the hall element 81 x captures the magnetic flux B_(d)(x) in thevertical direction. Then the hall element 81 x generates a hall voltageV_(h)(x) in directions orthogonal to the current direction and magneticfield direction, respectively. In other words, the hall element 81 x cancapture and convert the magnetic flux B_(d)(x) into the hall voltageV_(h)(x).

Similarly, when the hall current Ic is flowed to the hall element 81 ywhich captures the y-axis magnetic field B_(d)(y) (referred to as y-axishall element 81 y below), the hall element 81 y captures the magneticflux B_(d)(y) in the vertical direction. Then the hall element 81 ygenerates a hall voltage V_(h)(y) in directions orthogonal to thecurrent direction and magnetic field direction, respectively. In otherwords, the hall element 81 y can capture and convert the magnetic fluxB_(d)(y) into the hall voltage V_(h)(y). When the hall current Ic isflowed to the hall element 81 z which captures the z-axis magnetic fluxB_(d)(z) (referred to as z-axis hall element 81 z), the hall element 81z captures the magnetic flux B_(d)(z) in the vertical direction. Thenthe hall element 81 z generates the hall voltage V_(h)(z) in directionsorthogonal to the current direction and magnetic field direction,respectively. In other words, the hall element 81 z can capture andconvert the magnetic flux B_(d)(z) into the hall voltage V_(h)(z).

A surface magnetic flux density in a magnetic field detecting face ofthe magnetic field detecting unit 42 will be described below withreference to FIGS. 18 and 19.

FIG. 18 is a side cross-section view showing an operation inputting unit240 according to the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 18, amagnetic flux is detected by the magnetic field detecting unit 42 in amagnetic flux detecting face which is downwardly apart from the stressmagnetic field converting unit 41 by a predetermined distance G (gap).In FIG. 18, there are shown the magnetic flux detecting face, and thex-axis (lateral direction in the Figure) and the z-axis (longitudinaldirection in the Figure) among the x-, y- and z-axes of the XYZcoordinate system where an intersection point with a perpendicularpassing through the substantial center position of the input plane (xyplane) 31 a is assumed as the origin.

The magnetic flux detecting points D′, C′, B′, A, B, C and D areindicated on the magnetic flux detecting face from the left of theFigure. The magnetic flux detecting points are positioned side by sideon the magnetic flux detecting face (that is, x-axis) apart from thestress magnetic field converting unit 41 by the distance G. The magneticfield detecting unit 42 detects the surface magnetic flux densityoccurring outside the stress magnetic field converting unit 41 in eachmagnetic flux detecting point D′, C′, B′, A, B, C or D.

The magnetic flux detecting point A is substantially at the centerposition on the x-axis (that is, the origin in FIG. 18), and themagnetic flux detecting points B′ and B are symmetrically positioned onthe x-axis, both of which are separated from the magnetic flux detectingpoint A by a certain distance d, respectively. Further, the magneticflux detecting points C′ and C are symmetrically positioned on thex-axis, both of which are separated from the magnetic flux detectingpoint A by double the distance d, and the magnetic flux detecting pointsD′ and D are symmetrically positioned on the x-axis, both of which areapart from the magnetic flux detecting point A by triple the distance d.

For example, the magnetic flux detecting point A which is substantiallyat the center position on the x-axis is assumed as the load center P sothat a load is applied to the inputting unit 31.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing a distribution example of the surfacemagnetic flux densities in the z-axis direction which are detected inthe respective magnetic flux detecting points of FIG. 18. In the exampleof FIG. 19, the vertical axis indicates the surface magnetic fluxdensity [mT] in the z-axis direction and the horizontal axis indicates aposition [mm] of each magnetic flux detecting point about the magneticflux detecting point A (that is, a distance from the load center P toeach magnetic flux detecting point D′, C′, B′, A, B, C or D of FIG. 18).The dotted line and solid line indicate the surface magnetic fluxdensities in the z-axis direction before loading and after loading,which are detected in each magnetic flux detecting point of FIG. 18,respectively.

As indicated by the dotted line, the surface magnetic flux density inthe z-axis direction before loading becomes smaller toward the magneticflux detecting point A substantially at the center position of thestress magnetic field converting unit 41 depending on typicalcharacteristics due to magnet shape (cross-section's shape or length).In other words, the magnetic flux density detected at the magnetic fluxdetecting point A is smallest.

On the contrary, as indicated by the solid line, the surface magneticflux density in the z-axis direction after loading about the load centerP is further reduced near the load center P (that is, magnetic fluxdetecting point A). Conversely, the surface magnetic flux density in thez-axis direction after loading about the load center P indicates alarger magnetic flux density at the outside apart from the magnetic fluxdetecting point A by more than the distance d (that is, at the magneticflux detecting points D′, C′, B′, B, C and D) than in the case of noload (dotted line).

In other words, the magnetic flux density near the load center P, wherethe thickness is small and the diamagnetic field inside the magnet islarge due to load, is small, and the magnetic flux density near theoutside, where the thickness is large and the diamagnetic field insidethe magnet is small due to budging phenomenon, is large.

As described above, the surface magnetic flux density in the z-axisdirection largely relies on the direction and magnitude (vector) of thestress occurring in the material (stress magnetic field converting unit41) due to load.

In the example of FIG. 19, only the surface magnetic flux density in thez-axis direction measured at each magnetic flux detecting point on thex-axis direction is shown, but a similar result may be obtained even byenlarging the measurement point two-dimensionally (in the xy plane) andmeasuring the surface magnetic flux density in the z-axis direction fromthe measurement point on the x-axis in the example of FIG. 19.

In other words, the surface magnetic flux density in the z-axisdirection in the case of no load is smaller toward the substantialcenter position of the load plane 41 a about the load center P dependingon typical characteristics due to magnet shape (cross-section's shape orlength) even when measurement is made by enlarging the measurement pointtwo-dimensionally (in the xy plane).

On the contrary, the surface magnetic flux density in the z-axisdirection with load is further reduced near the load center P even whenmeasurement is made by enlarging the measurement point two-dimensionally(in the xy plane). Conversely, the surface magnetic flux density in thez-axis direction with load indicates a slightly larger magnetic fluxdensity near the outside furthest from the load center P than with noload.

In other words, in the example of FIG. 19, even when measurement is madeby enlarging the measurement point two-dimensionally (in the xy plane),the magnetic flux density n the z-axis direction near the load center Pis made small, where the thickness is small and the diamagnetic fieldinside the magnet is large due to load. Thus, the magnetic flux densityin the z-axis direction is slightly larger near the outside where thethickness is large and the diamagnetic field inside the magnet is smalldue to bulging phenomenon.

The larger the contact area in the load plane 41 a to which a load isapplied, the smaller the surface magnetic flux density in the z-axisdirection near the load center P is. In other words, the surfacemagnetic flux density in the z-axis direction when enlarging andmeasuring the measurement point two-dimensionally (in the xy plane)closely depends on not only the direction and magnitude (vector) of thestress occurring in the material (stress magnetic field converting unit41) due to load but also the load-applied contact area.

An electric structure of the operation inputting unit 240 according tothe present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.20. FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an electric structure of theoperation inputting unit 240 according to the present embodiment.

In the example of FIG. 20, the operation inputting unit 240 is connectedto the operation input processing unit 104 in the content editingapparatus 100.

The operation inputting unit 240 is configured to include a sensorcircuit unit 146 and a signal processing unit 147. The sensor circuitunit 146 is configured to include an x-output stabilizing circuit 151, ay-output stabilizing circuit 52 and a z-output stabilizing circuit 153,and stabilizes output voltages from the aforementioned hall elementgroup 91 to output the final output voltages in the respective axes tothe signal processing unit 147.

The x-output stabilizing circuit 151 differentially amplifies the outputvoltages from the x-axis hall elements 81 x 1 and 81 x 2 to generate astabilized x-axis final output voltage V_(hx) and to output the x-axisfinal output voltage V_(hx) to the signal processing unit 147. They-output stabilizing circuit 152 differentially amplifies the outputvoltages from the y-axis hall elements 81 y 1 and 81 y 2 to generate astabilized y-axis final output voltage V_(hy) and to output the y-axisfinal output voltage V_(hy) to the signal processing unit 147. Thez-output stabilizing circuit 153 amplifies an output voltage from thez-axis hall element 81 z to generate a stabilized z-axis final outputvoltage V_(hz) and to output the z-axis final output voltage V_(hz) tothe signal processing unit 147.

The signal processing unit 147 sends a reproduction operating commandcorresponding to a change in output voltage to the operation inputprocessing unit 104 from the output voltage of the sensor circuit unit146 based on the operation state in the operation inputting unit 240.

The x-output stabilizing circuit 151 will be described below withreference to FIG. 21. FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a structureexample of the x-output stabilizing circuit 151 according to the presentembodiment. The y-output stabilizing circuit 152 basically has the samestructure as the x-output stabilizing circuit 151 shown in FIG. 21 andthe description and illustration thereof will be omitted for avoidingrepetition.

In the example of FIG. 21, the x-output stabilizing circuit 151 isconfigured to include the hall elements 81 x 1 and 81 x 2, adifferential amplifying unit 161 and an offset adjusting unit 162.

The hall elements 81 x 1 and 81 x 2 capture the magnetic flux B_(d)(x)in the vertical direction and generate an output voltage in directionsorthogonal to the current direction and the magnetic field direction,respectively. In other words, a positive output voltage V_(hx1+) and anegative output voltage V_(hx1−) are output from the hall element 81 x1, and a positive output voltage V_(hx2+) and a negative output voltageV_(hx2−) are output from the hall element 81 x 2. In the example of FIG.21, the negative output of the hall element 81 x 1 and the positiveoutput of the hall element 81 x 2 are routed in a circuit manner. Thus,the hall elements 81 x 1 and 81 x 2 are configured as one hall elementso that only the positive output voltage V_(hx1+) from the hall element81 x 1 and the negative output voltage V_(hx2−) from the hall element 81x 2 are output to the differential amplifying unit 161.

The differential amplifying unit 161 differentiates the positive outputvoltage V_(hx1+) and the negative output voltage V_(hx2−) from the hallelements 81 x 1 and 81 x 2. The differential amplifying unit 161 isbased on and amplifies the midpoint voltage of the x-axis final outputvoltage V_(hx) (referred to as X output below) set by the offsetadjusting unit 162. Then, the differential amplifying unit 161 generatesthe stabilized x-axis final output voltage V_(hx) and outputs the Xoutput to the signal processing unit 147. The differential amplifyingunit 161 may be configured as a circuit or may be configured as acomputer for subtraction.

The offset adjusting unit 162 adjusts (sets) a value of the midpointvoltage of the X output (initial variation) output from the differentialamplifying unit 161. When the operation inputting unit 240 is configuredto include a plurality of hall element groups 91, the offset adjustingunit 162 adjusts to unify the magnitude of the midpoint voltage of the Xoutput which is output from the differential amplifying unit 161 of thex-output stabilizing circuit 151 to which other hall element group 91corresponds. Alternatively, the offset adjusting unit 162 can adjust thevalue of the midpoint voltage of the X output which is output from thedifferential amplifying unit 161, which has been offset along with atime-dependent change. The adjustment of the time-dependent change maybe performed through an operation by the signal processing unit 147.

In the example of FIG. 21, there is shown an example where the negativeoutput of the hall element 81 x 1 and the positive output of the hallelement 81 x 2 are routed in a circuit manner. However, in the presentinvention, the positive output voltage V_(hx1+) and the negative outputvoltage V_(hx1−) of the hall element 81 x 1 and the positive outputvoltage V_(hx2+) and the negative output voltage V_(hx2−) of the hallelement 81 x 2 may be output instead of routing the hall element 81 x 1and the hall element 81 x 2 in the circuit manner. At this time, thedifferential amplifying unit 161 may be configured for differential.

The z-output stabilizing circuit 153 will be described below withreference to FIG. 22, FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a structureexample of the z-output stabilizing circuit 153 according to the presentembodiment. The z-output stabilizing circuit 153 in FIG. 22 is differentfrom the x-output stabilizing circuit 151 in FIG. 21 in that the twohall elements 81 x 1 and 81 x 2 are replaced with one hall element 81 z,and is common thereto in that it is configured to include thedifferential amplifying unit 161 and the offset adjusting unit 162.

The hall element 81 z captures the magnetic flux B_(d)(Z) in thevertical direction and generates a positive output voltage V_(hz+) and anegative output voltage V_(hz−) in directions orthogonal to the currentdirection and the magnetic field direction. The positive output voltageV_(hz+) and the negative output voltage V_(hz−) from the hall element 81z are output to the differential amplifying unit 161.

The differential amplifying unit 161 and the offset adjusting unit 162are similarly configured as in the example of FIG. 21. In the example ofFIG. 22, the differential amplifying unit 161 differentiates thepositive output voltage V_(hz+) and the negative output voltage V_(hz−)from the hall element 81 z. The differential amplifying unit 161 isbased on and amplifies the midpoint voltage of the z-axis final outputvoltage V_(hz) (also referred to as Z output below) set by the offsetadjusting unit 162. Then the differential amplifying unit 161 generatesa stabilized z-axis final output voltage V_(hz) and outputs the Z outputto the signal processing unit 147.

The offset adjusting unit 162 adjusts (sets) the value of the midpointvoltage of the Z output at the time of initial shipment, which is outputfrom the differential amplifying unit 161. When the operation inputtingunit 240 is configured to include a plurality of hall element groups 91,the offset adjusting unit 162 adjusts to unify the magnitude of themidpoint voltage of the Z output which is output from the differentialamplifying unit 161 of the z-output stabilizing circuit 153 to whichother hall element group 91 corresponds. Alternatively, the offsetadjusting unit 162 adjusts the magnitude of the midpoint voltage of theZ output which is output from the differential amplifying unit 161,which has been offset along with a time-dependent change.

The midpoint voltage of the final output voltage set by the offsetadjusting unit 162 will be described below with reference to FIG. 23.FIG. 23 is a graph showing the midpoint voltage of the final outputvoltage. In the example of FIG. 23, there are shown with time [ms] anoutput voltage [V] from each hall element, a midpoint voltage with noload and a voltage effective range (within dotted line in the Figure).The output voltage of only the bias magnetic field with no load input isindicated until the time T and the output voltage when the bias magneticfield has been changed due to load input is indicated after the time T.

The X and Y output voltages take a value substantially at the center ofthe voltage effective range before loading as indicated by adashed-dotted line, and may change in the bias magnetic field andlargely invert in the direction of the magnetic field density vectorwhen a load is applied after the time T. The midpoint voltage of the Xand Y outputs is set substantially at the center of the effective range.

On the other hand, the Z-output voltage takes a value in either side ofthe voltage effective range (lower side in the case of FIG. 23) beforeloading as indicated by a solid line, and the magnetic flux densityvector does not largely invert due to the load direction, sensor shapeor material characteristics even when a load is applied after the timeT. Thus, the midpoint voltage of the Z output is set to be in eitherside of the voltage effective range (upper side in the case of FIG. 23)for broadly utilizing the effective range. However, since a deformationoccurs though not much such that the material (stress magnetic fieldconverting unit 41) expands near the load object at the time of loading,the midpoint voltage of the Z output needs to be set not by setting justin the voltage effective range but by considering a certain margin.

A change in the bias magnetic field B depending on the deformation ofthe stress magnetic field converting unit 41, that is, informationcapable of being obtained using the change in the voltage output fromthe hall element 81 will be described below.

A load pressure and a depth which are calculated (assumed) whendetecting the operation state of the operation inputting unit 240 willbe first described using the change in the voltage output from the hallelement 81 with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25.

FIG. 24 is a side cross-section view showing the operation inputtingunit 240 according to the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 24,the circuit board 61 (magnetic field detecting unit 42) arranged suchthat one hall element group 91 is at the center of the input plane 31 ais fixed to the fixing unit 32 at the lower side of the stress magneticfield converting unit 41. In FIG. 24, the x-axis (lateral direction inthe Figure) and the z-axis (longitudinal direction in the Figure) areindicated among the x-, y- and z-axes in the XYZ coordinate system wherethe hall element group 91 is assumed as the origin.

An arbitrary position on the operation inputting unit 240 (in theexample of FIG. 24, immediately above the hall element group 91 (x=y=0))is assumed as the load center P and an arbitrarily-shaped object isapplied a load F at the contact area S. A relationship among the finaloutput voltage V_(hz) from the z-axis hall element 81 x, the pressurevalue F when loaded and the material (stress magnetic field convertingunit 41) thickness t on the hall element group 91 is represented asshown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 25 is a graph showing a relationship among the final output voltageV_(hz) from the z-axis hall element 81 z, the load (pressure value) Fand the material thickness t in the example of FIG. 24. In the exampleof FIG. 25, the horizontal axis denotes the final output voltageV_(hz)[V] from the z-axis hall element 81 z and the solid line denotesthe pressure value F[N] when loaded, and the dotted line denotes thematerial thickness t[mm].

As indicated by the solid line, as the pressure value F when loadedincrease, the final output voltage V_(hz) decreases. As indicated by thedotted line, as the material thickness t increases, the final outputvoltage V_(hz) also increases.

As described above, when the final output voltage V_(hz) from the z-axishall element 81 z is determined, the pressure value F when loaded andthe material thickness t are uniquely determined. Thus, the loadedpressure and the depth T (original material thickness t−loaded materialthickness t) are enabled to assume depending on the final output voltagefrom the z-axis hall element 81 z, thereby accurately detecting the gripstate.

In the above description, there has been described the case where theload center P is immediately above the hall element group 91 (x=y=0).When the final output voltage V_(hz) from the z-axis hall element 81 zis determined, even when the load center P is at other position, theloaded pressure value F and the material thickness t are uniquelydetermined.

In this case, the two values (loaded pressure value F and materialthickness t) are estimated by a formula which is different depending onthe distance of the load center P about the position of the hall elementgroup 91 for detecting the magnetic flux in the xy plane. However, whenthe load center P is on a concentric circle about the position of thehall element group 91, substantially the same calculation result must beobtained.

The exchange of the formulas along with the distance of the load centerP from the position of the hall element group 91 is enabled by acombination with load position assumption described later with referenceto FIGS. 26 and 27 or multipoint load calibration by the hall elementgroup 91. In other words, the multipoint load calibration means that acalibration table 148 previously stores therein which formula to usewhen a load is applied to each point (such as x=1, y=0) for a pluralityof points on the input plane 31 a.

Further, a load position calculated (assumed) at the time of detectingthe operation state of the operation inputting unit 240 will bedescribed using a change in the voltage output from the hall element 81with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27.

FIG. 26 is a side cross-section view showing the operation inputtingunit 240 according to the present embodiment. In the example of FIG. 26,the x-axis (lateral direction in the Figure) and the z-axis(longitudinal direction in the Figure) are indicated from among the x-,y- and z-axes in the XYZ coordinate system where the center position ofthe input plane (xy plane) 31 a is assumed as the origin. The magneticfield detecting unit 42 which is configured such that the hall elementgroup 91 is arranged immediately below the origin on the circuit board61 is fixed to the fixing unit 32 at the lower side of the stressmagnetic field converting unit 41.

On the input plane 31 a (x-axis), the load positions d′, c′, b′, a, b, cand d are indicated from the left of the Figure about the load center Pof the arbitrarily-shaped object on the x-axis of the input plane 31 a.In the example of FIG. 26, the stress magnetic field converting unit 41is pressed down by a depth T at the load position a due to thearbitrarily-shaped object's load assuming the load position a as theload center P.

The load position a is substantially at the center on the x-axis (thatis, immediately above the hall element group 91), and the load positionsb′ and b are symmetrically positioned on the x-axis, both of which areapart from the load position a by a certain distance D. Further, theload positions c′ and c are symmetrically positioned on the x-axis, bothof which are apart from the load position a by double the distance D,and the load positions d′ and d are symmetrically positioned on thex-axis, both of which are apart from the load position a by triple thedistance D.

For example, the position as the load center P is moved from the loadposition d′ toward the load position d while a load is being applied soas to press the inputting unit 31 by an arbitrary depth T.Correspondingly, a relationship between the x-axis final output voltageV_(hx) and the z-axis final output voltage V_(hz) is to be shown in FIG.27. FIG. 27 is a graph showing a relationship among the load position onthe x-axis, the x-axis final output voltage V_(hx) and the z-axis finaloutput voltage V_(hz).

In the example of FIG. 27, the horizontal axis represents the loadpositions d′, c′, b′, a, b, c, and d [mm] on the x-axis. FIG. 27represents the z-axis final output voltage V_(hz)[V], the z-axismidpoint voltage [V], the x-axis final output voltage V_(hx)[V] and thex-axis midpoint voltage [V] when the position as the load center P ismoved to each load position.

The z-axis hall element 81 z configuring the hall element group 91detects the magnetic flux B_(d)(z) in the vertical direction relative tothe input plane 31 a (parallel direction relative to the z-axis) andoutputs the z-axis final output voltage V_(hz). Thus, the z-axis finaloutput voltage V_(hz) gradually becomes larger due to bulging phenomenonfrom the same value as the midpoint voltage until the position as theload center P is moved from the load position d′ furthest from the hallelement group 91 toward a position slightly near the load position b′.Further, the z-axis final output voltage V_(hz) gradually becomessmaller through the same value as the midpoint voltage at the loadposition b′ until the position as the load center P is moved from theposition slightly near the load position b′ toward the load position a.The z-axis final output voltage V_(hz) is minimum when the load positiona immediately below the hall element group 91 is assumed as the loadcenter P and a load is applied thereto to be pressed down by anarbitrary depth T.

The z-axis final output voltage V_(hz) gradually becomes larger throughthe same value as the midpoint voltage at the load position b′ until theposition as the load center P is moved from the load position a toward aposition slightly beyond the load position b. Further, the z-axis finaloutput voltage V_(hz) gradually becomes smaller as the value slightlylarger than the midpoint voltage approaches the midpoint voltage due tobulging phenomenon after the position as the load center P passesthrough the position slightly beyond the load position b (including theload position d furthest from the hall element group 91).

As described above, when the position as the load center P is moved fromthe load position d′ toward d, the z-axis final output voltage V_(hz)takes a symmetric (line-symmetric) value relative to the position (loadposition a) immediately above the hall element group 91 (the input plane31 a).

On the other hand, the x-axis hall element 81 x configuring the hallelement group 91 detects the magnetic flux B_(d)(x) in the verticaldirection relative to the z-axis (parallel direction relative to theinput plane 31 a) and outputs the x-axis final output voltage V_(hx).Therefore, the x-axis final output voltage V_(hx) gradually becomessmaller until the position as the load center P is moved from the loadposition d′ furthest from the hall element group 91 toward a positionsubstantially between the load positions c′ and b′. Further, the x-axisfinal output voltage V_(hx) is minimum when the position substantiallybetween the load positions c′ and b′ is assumed as the load center P andis applied a load enough to press down by an arbitrary depth T.

The x-axis final output voltage V_(hx) gradually becomes larger throughthe same value as the midpoint voltage at the load position a until theposition as the load center P is moved from the position substantiallybetween the load positions c′ and b′ toward a position substantiallybetween the load positions b and c. Further, the x-axis final outputvoltage V_(hx) is maximum when the position substantially between theload positions b and c is assumed as the load center P and is applied aload enough to press down by an arbitrary depth T.

Further, the x-axis final output voltage V_(hx) gradually becomessmaller until the position as the load center P is moved from theposition substantially between the load positions b and c toward theload position d.

As described above, when the load center P is moved from the loadposition d′ toward d, the x-axis final output voltage V_(hx) takes apoint-symmetric value relative to the position (load position a)immediately above the hall element group 91 (the input plane 31 a).

The load position b′ (b′, 0, T) on the x-axis is uniquely determined bythe above result such as the x-axis final output voltage V_(hx) (b′, 0,T) and the z-axis final output voltage V_(hz) (b′, 0, T). This issimilarly applicable to the y-axis. In other words, though notillustrated, the graph represents that the y-axis final output voltageV_(hy) is substantially symmetric relative to the x-axis final outputvoltage V_(hx) for the x-axis midpoint voltage in FIG. 27. Therefore,the load position over the input plane (xy plane) 31 a of the operationinputting unit 240 can be estimated by using a combination of the x-axisfinal output voltage V_(hx) and the y-axis final output voltage V_(hy),the z-axis final output voltage V_(hz) and the multipoint loadcalibration by the above hall element group 91.

The estimation of the load position from the load to the operationinputting unit 240 will be described below.

The inputting unit 31 is configured to include a viscoelastic magnet(stress magnetic field converting unit 41) having the magnetic fluxdensity B_(d) due to the bias magnetic field. The hall element group 91configured to include the x-axis hall elements 81 x 1 and 81 x 2, they-axis hall elements 81 y 1 and 81 y 2 and the z-axis hall element 81 z,which constitutes the magnetic field detecting unit 42, is arrangedinside the inputting unit 31 immediately below the origin similarly asin FIG. 24 or 26.

The inputting unit 31 has the conditions or material characteristicssuch as the magnetic field density B_(d) due to the bias magnetic field,the thickness t of the viscoelastic magnet, the contact area S′ by anarbitrary object, a spring constant (elastic coefficient) G and aviscosity coefficient η.

The inputting unit 31 configured in this manner is applied, as the loadcenter P(x, y, z), a load F at the contact area S′ by an arbitraryobject due to pulling load, contact, sliding or vibration phenomenon bythe arbitrary object. Thus, the inputting unit 31 made of theviscoelastic magnet deforms and the magnetic flux density due to thebias magnetic field also changes. At this time, each axis's hall element81 constituting the hall element group 91 outputs a voltage from itsmagnetic flux density. The final output voltages V_(hx), V_(hy) andV_(hz), which are stabilized, are output to the signal processing unit147, respectively.

The signal processing unit 147 previously stores therein the calibrationtable 148 for multipoint load calibration aforementioned with referenceto FIG. 25. The signal processing unit 147 uses the three x-, y- andz-axis final output voltages to estimate the contact center position(that is, load center) P(x, y, z) with an arbitrary object or a pressurevalue (that is, load) F occurring at the contact center position by, asneeded, referring to the calibration table 148. Then, the signalprocessing unit 147 can obtain a static state or dynamic behavior of thearbitrary object as the object's contact state by referring to theconditions or material characteristics such as the magnetic flux densityB_(d) due to the bias magnetic field, the thickness t of theviscoelastic magnet, contact area S′ by arbitrary object, springconstant (elastic coefficient) G and viscosity coefficient η which areowned by the inputting unit 31.

Furthermore, the operation inputting unit 240 sends a reproductionoperating command corresponding to the contact center position P(x, y,z) and the pressure value F to the operation input processing unit 104.

In the example of FIGS. 24 and 26 described above, only one hall elementgroup 91 is shown on the circuit board 61 but a plurality of hallelement groups 91 can be arranged therein according to the presentinvention. Hereinafter, the plurality of hall element groups 91 arereferred to as a sensor matrix.

In the sensor matrix, for example, nine hall element groups 91 may bearranged in 3 columns longitudinally (in the y-axis direction) and 3rows horizontally (in the x-axis direction). In this case, each hallelement group 91 is configured to include the x-axis hall elements 81 x1 and 81 x 2, the y-axis hall elements 81 y 1 and 81 y 2 and the z-axishall element 81 z similarly as in the case of FIG. 16.

Further, in the sensor matrix, four hall element groups 91 may bearranged in two columns longitudinally (in the y-axis direction) and 2rows horizontally (in the x-axis direction). Furthermore, in the sensormatrix, five hall element groups 91 may be arranged in a crossingmanner. In the sensor matrix, four hall element groups 91-1 to 91-4 maybe longitudinally arranged in one line.

As described above, a plurality of hall element groups 91 may bearranged on the circuit board 61 to constitute the magnetic fielddetecting unit 42 depending on the size or shape of the input plane 31 aof the inputting unit 31. Thus, it is possible to prevent the detectionaccuracy from being reduced even for any input plane 31 a.

In the above description, there has been described the case where theestimation of the pressure or pressing depth and the position on theinput plane is possible due to the hall element group 91 configured withthe hall elements 81 of the three axes. The present invention may beconfigured with the hall elements 81 of the two axes among the x-axis,y-axis and z-axis elements (it is desirable that the z-axis isincluded). Even in this case, a similar effect as in the case of thethree axes is obtained. In other words, the contact center position withan object to be gripped or the pressure value (pressure or pressingdepth) occurring at the contact center position can be estimated as theobject's grip state. In the case of the three axes, the positionalestimation in the input plane is enabled, but in the case of the twoaxes, the positional estimation is possible but it is limited to eitherthe y-axis or the x-axis.

The hall element group 91 may be configured to include the hall element81 of any one axis (z-axis is desirable) among the x-axis, y-axis andz-axis elements. In the case of one axis, the load position is difficultto estimate and the pressure and the pressing depth can be estimatedunlike in the case of the two or three axes.

The hall element group 91 may be configured to include the hall elements81 of four or more axes instead of being limited to one to three axesdescribed above.

As noted above, the inputting unit for inputting information from anobject in the operation inputting unit 240 is configured to include aviscoelastic magnet and to detect a change in the bias magnetic field Bdepending on a deformation of the viscoelastic magnet as a change in thevoltage by the hall elements based on a change in the magnitude ordirection of the magnetic flux density. Consequently, it is possible toprecisely obtain information such as the contact position with an objectto contact, pressure or pressing depth. Thus, since the contact state isdetected, various kinds of the contact state are corresponded to variousreproduction operating commands for each kind so that the operationinputting unit 240 can send a reproduction operating commandcorresponding to the kind of the contact state to the operation inputprocessing unit 104.

Various reproduction operating commands corresponding to the kinds ofthe contact state may be configured such that, for example, the z-axispressing detection corresponds to the reproducing start command, thez-axis pressing cancel detection corresponds to the reproduction stopcommand, and the x-axis contact position detection corresponds to thereproduction speed. Further, for the x-axis contact position detection,the reproduction direction may be changed depending on a directionrelative to the origin and the reproduction speed may be changeddepending on a distance from the origin. For example, the forwardreproduction speed is adjusted for the positive x-axis direction and thereverse reproduction speed is adjusted for the negative −x-axisdirection. Further, when the standard reproduction speed is assumed asv=1, reproduction may be performed at the reproduction speed of 0<v≦1within a predetermined distance from the origin and at the reproductionspeed of v>1 when the predetermined distance is exceeded.

A series of processings described above can be executed in hardware orin software.

When the series of processings is executed in software, programsconstituting the software are installed in a computer incorporated intoa dedicated hardware from a program recording medium. Alternatively,various programs are installed so that the above programs are installedfrom the program recording medium into a general-purpose personalcomputer capable of executing various functions.

An input information detecting processing of the operation inputtingunit 240 will be described below with reference to FIG. 20.

For example, a user contacts an arbitrary object to the operationinputting unit 240 to operate the operation inputting unit 240 so thatpulling load, contact, sliding or vibration phenomenon occurs betweenthe operation inputting unit 240 and the arbitrary object. Next, thestress magnetic field converting unit 41 configured to include aviscoelastic magnet due to its object's shape and stress starts todeform so that the bias magnetic field B applied to the stress magneticfield converting unit 41 changes. The magnetic flux density B_(d) insidethe viscoelastic magnet due to the bias magnetic field B is representedby the following formula (1).

[Formula 1]B _(d) =J−μ ₀ H _(d)  (1)

Where, B_(d) denotes the magnetic flux density [T] or [Wb/m²] inside themagnet, J denotes the magnetic polarization [T], μ₀ denotes the vacuummagnetic permeability [μH/m] or [Wb/m²], and H_(d) denotes the intensity[A/m] of the magnetic field inside the magnet.

In other words, as aforementioned with reference to FIG. 15, themagnetic flux occurring outside the magnet also changes along with thechange in the diamagnetic field inside the magnet. Correspondingly, thehall element group 91 configured to include the hall elements 81 of thethree axes detects the change in the magnetic flux occurring at thesurface of the adjacent stress magnetic field converting unit 41,conducts the magnetoelectric transduction, and outputs a voltage to thecorresponding differential amplifying unit 161. The magnetoelectrictransduction in the hall element group 91 is represented by thefollowing formula (2).

[Formula 2]V _(h(x,y,z))=(R _(h) I _(c) B _(d(x,y,z)))/d  (2)

Where, V_(h(x, y, z)) denotes a hall voltage [V] of each axis, R_(h)denotes a resistance value [Ω] of the hall element, I_(c) denotes acurrent value [A], B_(d(x, y, z)) denotes the magnetic flux density [T]of each axis, and d denotes the thickness [nm] of the hall element.

Next, the differential amplifying unit 161 optimally stabilizes theoutput voltage from the hall element 81 based on the preset midpointvoltage of each output. In other words, the differential amplifying unit161 differentiates the output voltage from the hall element 81, is basedon and amplifies the midpoint voltage below the bias magnetic field B byperforming the gain adjustment, and generates the stabilized finaloutput voltage to output the final output voltage to the signalprocessing unit 147.

Next, the signal processing unit 147 detects the contact state of theobject from the final output voltages of the three x-, y- and x-axes.For example, the signal processing unit 147 calculates the contactcenter position relative to the object to be gripped and the pressurevalue occurring at the contact center position from the final outputvoltages of the three x-, y- and x-axes to detect the contact state. Theinformation on the detected contact state is converted into acorresponding reproduction operating command and is output to theoperation input processing unit 104 in real-time.

Subsequently, the operation input processing unit 104 determines whetherto terminate the processing, and if it is determined that the processingis not terminated, the processing returns to the start and repeats thesubsequent processing. On the other hand, if it is determined that theprocessing is terminated, the processing is terminated.

As described above, the inputting unit 31 into which the information onthe object is input is configured to include the stress magnetic fieldconverting unit 41 made of the viscoelastic magnet. Consequently, thechange in the bias magnetic field B depending on the deformation of thestress magnetic converting unit 41 due to pulling load, contact, slidingor vibration phenomenon occurring relative to the contacting object isdetected by the hall element 81 as the change in voltage from the changein the magnitude or direction of the magnetic flux density. Then, theinformation on the contact position with the contacting object isprecisely obtained.

In other words, the state such as pulling load, contact, sliding orvibration phenomenon occurring relative to the contacting object isdetected. Thus, since the contact state is detected, various kinds ofthe contact state are corresponded to various reproduction operatingcommands for each kind so that the operation inputting unit 240 can senda reproduction operating command corresponding to the kind of thecontact state to the operation input processing unit 104.

The reproducing operation using the above operation inputting unit 240can perform physical interaction with high affinity for a person becauseof the flexible material of the inputting unit (viscoelastic magnet).

In this manner, the flexible and slidable material with high affinityfor a person is used for the inputting unit so that various functionscan be exhibited as an inputting device for real machine or virtualspace. For example, not only force or pressure but also strike slip orstick slip phenomenon of material itself can be expressed so that novelinterface can be configured to include various inputting unit (that is,expression).

The operation inputting unit 240 has a simple structure to be configuredto include three elements such as viscoelastic magnet, circuit board fordetection and fixing unit. The viscoelastic magnet uses a material suchas silicon gel for binder to have a characteristic that it can largelydeform with small force, which can be fabricated by a typical rubbermagnet molding method at low cost and is easily handled. Further, theelement for detecting a change in the magnetic flux density vector canbe realized such that a plurality of typical hall elements are combinedto be accurately arranged for the viscoelastic magnet applied with thebias magnetic field, which can be easily realized at low cost.

When the operation inputting unit 240 according to the presentembodiment is used, the reproduction direction or reproduction speed canbe adjusted unlike the operation inputting unit in related art (forexample, dial-using adjusting method). For example, contents can beeasily reproduced by pressing the inputting unit 31 by a user's fingeror pulling the same in the y-axis direction while pressing according tothe operation inputting unit 240 of the present embodiment. The scenewith high interest can be easily operated to be slowly reproduced orrepeatedly reproduced. Alternatively, when the scene with no interestcomes, the operation from slow reproduction to rapid fast-forward can beeasily performed. Furthermore, the operation by the operation inputtingunit 240 is adaptable to the scoring depending on the reproduction speeddescribed in the first embodiment (evaluation in which slow reproductionspeed causes high score) or the scoring depending on the times ofreproduction.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

For example, in the above embodiments, a threshold is applied forinterest degree distribution so that reproduction or file generation ofa digest is performed for the sections with high interest degree.According to the present invention, further, the content data on thesections with lower interest degree than the threshold other than thesections with high interest degree may be deleted.

For example, the operation log data is recorded for the content datawhich has been reproduced once or more by the content editing apparatusaccording to the present invention so that the interest degreedistribution in the time axis direction can be displayed. Then, thesections below the threshold can be presented to the user as thesections for deletion candidate. Consequently, the user may performediting operation such as content data deletion, and if the deletingoperation is performed, the capacity occupied by the sections with lowinterest degree is available.

Thus, since unwanted sections can be easily deleted from the contentdata, when the data capacity of the video recording device for recordingcontent data such as home server or hard disk recorder is finite, thefinite data capacity can be efficiently used.

In the above embodiments, there has been described the case in which thecontent editing apparatus 100 connected to the video recording device118 having the content data recorded therein is a single stand-aloneapparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 28, the present invention may be a contentediting system which is configured to include a server 200 and aplurality of user terminals 202 connected to the server 200 via thenetwork 10. FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing the contentediting system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The plurality of user terminals 202 are connected with each other viathe network 10 or the like and have the same content data. Then, theuser terminals 202 reproduce the content data so that the respectiveoperation log data is generated and the interest degree distribution isproduced. Further, averaging is performed for the interest degreedistribution by several users, thereby obtaining the interest degreedistribution in the time axis direction which reflects the interestdegree of the users. Consequently, file generation or reproduction ofthe digest of the sections with high users' interest can be performed.On the contrary, the sections with no users' interest can be easilyextracted.

The present invention may be configured to include user interfacecapable of designating the length of the digest content data when theuser performs file generation or reproduction of the digest. The contentediting apparatus calculates an appropriate threshold depending on thelength of the input time. As a result, content data which hasuser-desired time length and whose sections with high interest degreeare extracted can be easily created.

In the above embodiments, the interest degree distribution in the timeaxis direction is assumed to be calculated based on the operation logdata generated by the user's operation but the present invention is notlimited thereto. For example, the interest degree distribution in thetime axis direction may be previously prepared by a content providerwhich manages the content data. The user can uses the interest degreedistribution prepared by the content provider to reproduce the digestcontent data. Furthermore, an interest degree distribution can be newlygenerated in combination with the operation log data generated by theuser's operation or either one interest degree distribution can bealternatively selected.

The present application contains subject matter related to thatdisclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2008-076690 filedin the Japan Patent Office on Mar. 24, 2008, the entire content of whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A content editing apparatus comprising: anoperation input processing unit into which a reproduction operatingcommand of content data is input by a user; a log recording unit forrecording log data for respective sections of the content data, said logdata being a function of the reproduction operating command and areproduction position of the respective sections of content dataassociated with said reproduction operating command; a recordcontrolling unit for recording operation data corresponding to thereproduction operating command input into the operation input processingunit along with the reproduction position of the content data in arecording medium; and a score calculation unit for calculating a scoreof said respective sections of content data based on said log data forsaid respective sections.
 2. The content editing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a reproduction controlling unit forreproducing, the content data depending on the score of the operationdata recorded in the recording medium.
 3. The content editing apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the reproduction controlling unit appliesa threshold to apportion the content data depending on the score of therespective sections of content data and to extract and reproduce theapportioned content data based on the threshold.
 4. The content editingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reproduction controllingunit controls the reproduction of a section of content data based on thelog data recorded for that section of content data so as to reproducesaid section of content data corresponding to the reproduction operatingcommand that had been used previously to reproduce said section.
 5. Thecontent editing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising adisplay controlling unit for visually displaying a time-dependentdistribution of the score of the operation data in a displaying device.6. The content editing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein thedisplay controlling unit visually displays a threshold for apportioningthe content data depending on the score of the respective sections ofcontent data in the displaying device, and the operation inputprocessing unit is input with a threshold change command by a user, andfurther comprises a reproduction controlling unit for applying thethreshold to apportion the content data and to extract and reproduce theapportioned content data based on the threshold.
 7. The content editingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a filing processingunit for applying a threshold to apportion the content data depending onthe score of the respective sections of content data, to extract theapportioned content data based on the threshold and to combine theapportioned content data being extracted for generating combined contentdata.
 8. The content editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thelog recording unit updates the log data previously recorded in therecording medium depending on the reproduction operating command beingnewly input.
 9. The content editing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the reproduction operating command includes a reproductiondirection instructing operation, a reproduction speed instructingoperation or a zooming operation.
 10. A content editing methodcomprising the steps of: inputting a reproduction operating command ofcontent data by a user; a log recording unit for recording log data forrespective sections of the content data, said log data being a functionof the reproduction operating command and a reproduction position of therespective sections of content data associated with said reproductionoperating command; recording operation data corresponding to the inputreproduction operating command along with the reproduction position ofthe content data in a recording medium; and calculating a score of saidrespective sections of content data based on said log data for saidrespective sections.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readable recordmedium storing a program for causing a computer to function as: a unitfor inputting a reproduction operating command of content data by user;a unit for recording log data for respective sections of the contentdata, said log data being a function of the reproduction operatingcommand and a reproduction position of the respective sections ofcontent data associated with said reproduction operating command; a unitfor recording operation data corresponding to the input reproductionoperating command along with the reproduction position of the contentdata in a recording medium; and a unit for calculating a score of saidrespective sections of content data based on said log data for saidrespective sections.